Improvement in combs



configuration.

- tous, or hooks, a.

UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN E. BRITTON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN` COMBS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 174,059, dated February Q9, 1876 application filed August 11,1875.

Vmeans whereby the ordinary back-comb,

so termed, used by ladies may be made to assist in retaining the band orlsemicircular comb in place when the wearer stoops forward, and yet be capable ot' separate and independent use when desired.

To this end the invention consists in the combination ot' detachable side pieces with hooks or buttons provided upon the lateral portions ofthe baclccomb, and also upon the corresponding lateral portions ofthe semicircular comb, whereby is secured, in a very effective and superior manner, the object sought.`

Figure l is a side view representing my invention, and Fig. 2 is a perspective View thereof.

A is the band or semicircular comb, and B is the back-comb, so termed, both being of the ordinary or ot' any suitable form and construction, and with any preferred ornamental Upon the lateral portions ot' the back-com b B, 'at the rear side thereof', and, preferably, near its edges, are two studs, but Upon the lateral portions ot' the semicircular comb A,4 upon the outer surface thereof', and at any preferred distance, say from one to two inches, from the extremities a thereof, are studs, buttons, or hooks b, corresponding` to the studs, buttons, or hooks a on the back-comb. U are side pieces, which may be simple straps of light leather, such as morocco, te., or ot' light woven fabric, or pieces ot' more rigid and stit' material, like vulcanized rubber or horn, but which, preferably, are made ot' elastic webbing or tape, or ot' elastic cord. As shown inthe drawings, these pieces are dat, and each has a buttonhole, a', in each end. The said side pieces are placed one upon each side of the semicircular comb and the back-comb, as represented more fully in Fig. 2, the back-comb being, of course, placed behind the semicircular comb. Each Side piece is buttoned at one end to the stud,

.13, and the buttons,

button, or hook a on the adjacent side of the semicircular comb, and at the other to the contiguous stud, button, or hook b of the backcomb, the two side pieces being thus more or less parallel, and lconnecting the haelt-comb with the semicircular comb with a more or less liexible or hinge-like connection.

In using the invention the semicircular comb is placed in its usual position upon the head of the wearer, and the back-comb is then strained slightly upon the side pieces O, and adjusted at the back of the head in the ordinary manner; and as the bach-comb holds upon the semicircular comb by means ot' the side pieces C, it eft'ectually prevents the displacement ot'the semicircular comb in a forward direction from the stooping of the wearer, or from other causes.

When it is' desired, to use either the ,backcomb or semicircular comb alone, or both separately, the side pieces are detached, `andeach of the combs may be applied by itself in the usual manner.

I do not claim in this application a band or supplemental semicircular comb so attached to a semicircular comb as to pass aroundthe back ot' the head ot' the wearer to keep the main semicircular comb fiom falling forward, as such have been hitherto devised, and differ materially from my invention. Neither do I claim a back and a'semicircular comb made in one piece, as such have hitherto been made and dil'er materially from mine. Neither, so t'ar as concerns this present case, do I claim the combination, with a semicircularcomb, of studs or 'fastenings for a removable band, as such constitutes the subject-matter of another application of mine now pending, tiled August 5` 1875; but

What I claim as mv invention is- The side pieces C, in combination with fthe buttons, studs, or` hooks c of the back-comb studs, or hooks b ot' the semicircular comb A, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

BENJAMIN F. BRITTON. Witnesses HENRY SCHMITT, ELBERT DEARBORN. 

